Christmas Homily

There was a Christmas story told about a middle-aged man who did not believe that God became human. He didn't believe in the Doctrine of Incarnation, the Word Made Flesh. This is the great mystery that the Church joyfully proclaims at Christmas. Also, he was also too honest to pretend to believe.

He truthfully admitted to his wife who was a devout churchgoer. He said: “I am sorry to disappoint you. But I simply cannot understand this claim that God became man. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

On Christmas Eve, his wife and children went to church for the midnight Mass. He declined to accompany them. He said to his wife: “If I go, I would feel like a hypocrite. I rather stay at home. But I'll be sure to wait up for you.”

Shortly after his wife and children drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window and watched the snow falling down. He thought to himself: “If we MUST have Christmas, at least it is a White Christmas.”

The man went back to his comfy chair by the fireplace, and began to read the local newspaper. A few moments later, he was startled by a pounding sound at the window. It was quickly followed by another, then another.

He thought that someone was throwing snowballs at his living room window. When he went to the window to see what it was, he saw a flock of birds caught in the snow storm, and in desperate search for shelter. They were trying to fly through his window.

He thought to himself: “I can’t let these poor creatures freeze. But how can I help them?” Then he thought about his barn where they could have a warm shelter.

He put on his coat and quickly ran outside to the barn. He opened the doors of the barn, turned on the lights, but the birds didn't come in. He thought: “Maybe food will bring them in.” So he went back to the house, and grabbed bread crumbs and sprinkled it on the snow, hoping to make a trail for them into the barn.

But the birds continued to flop around helplessly in the snow. He tried shooing them into the barn, running around, waving his arms, shouting and screaming. But they scattered in every direction, except into the barn.

He thought to himself: “They find me a strange and terrifying creature. I can't seem to think of any way to let them know that they can trust me. I want to help them. If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps, I could lead them to safety.”

Just at that moment the midnight church bells began to ring. He stood silent for a while, listening to the bells. Then he sank to his knees in the snow. “Now I do understand,” he whispered. “Jesus, I now see why you had to do it.”

Today, the Church joyfully proclaims that God became man, the Word was flesh and dwelt among us, that Christ is the Emmanuel which means God with us.

God has always communited with humanity from the very beginning of time. In the fulness of time, God communicated through His Beloved Son, who is begotten, not made.

God did not communicate in a glorified manner, but a child who had a humble beginning. Imagine as St. Joseph desperately knocking on doors in Bethlehem, hoping that someone would be kind and gracious to give them lodging. “Excuse me, my wife is having a child. Can you please spare a room for us to stay?” “But there was no room for them at the inn.” Because of the census, and everyone had to return to the town of their birth. St. Joseph is born in Bethlehem, the City of King David. Remember that God will build a house for David. God will raise up a descendant of King David to become the Messiah.

At this time, Bethlehem was overcrowded. Is my life so overcrowded, that I don't have room for the Christ-Child, the newborn King? Can I make room for Christ throughout this new year? Lord Jesus, you can find refuge and shelter in my soul.” “Let my humble soul be a manger for you.”

“A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.”

God has been communicating all along, but the message was not receive. Over and over again, the people did not remain faithful. As the psalm 51 says: “Be merciful O Lord, for we have sinned.”

“God, I now see why you had to do it.” God had to become one of us, so to help us understand the message. The Letter to the Hebrews expresses it in this way:

“At various moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son.” (Heb 1:1-2)

Both St. Matthew and St. Luke wrote the infancy narratives, the story of Christ's birth.

The infancy narratives are not exclusive, but wonderfully inclusive. The narratives include Caesar Augustus, Quirinius, Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, Shepherds of the Field, Angels, Prophets of the Old Testament, the three Wise Men with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John The Baptist, King Herod. There are so many characters, and they all have a role in the birth of Christ. Essentially, everyone is preparing for the Messiah. But not all welcome his arrival.

And the Angels proclaim the good news to the shepherds of the field. It doesn't say in the Gospels, have you ever wondered how many shepherds actually saw the Christ Child?

The Angels proclaim the good news. “Behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. A savior has been born for you, who is Christ and Lord.”

These are the words that the Covenant people have been longing for. Because of the birth of Christ, this unique event, it completely change the course of human history.

The Word was flesh and dwelt among us. “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us.”